We are based in Risca, about 7 miles north west of Newport in South Wales (UK).

A number of members travel to us from surrounding areas including Chepstow, Newport, Cardiff, Pontypool, Abertillery and Tredegar.

Any adult who has or has had depression or anxiety is welcome on the basis of mutual respect. You don't have to have a formal diagnosis. We also reach out and invite referrals via health professionals, social services, and voluntary organisations.

We meet twice a week, on Tuesdays from 7pm - 9pm, and on Thursdays from 1pm - 3pm. There is no charge to attend or for membership, just come along and meet us. Our aim is to support each other, in a safe confidential environment.

We chat, listen, empathise, have fun, invite speakers, go 10 pin bowling, go out for meals, gentle walks... the list continues to grow and we welcome new ideas.  A key word is Respect - we try to adapt to the needs of those attending. 

We have made links with the Caerphilly East Community Mental Health Team (CMHT) in Risca.  Doctors' surgeries and chemists display our poster, as do many other local health organisations and projects.

Dan-y-Graig Church, Risca, kindly let us use their hall for our meetings, and display our poster. Some SHADE members are Christians - many are not - reflecting the general population.

1 in 4 people in Britain suffer with depression, but many don't or can't acknowledge this.  Social "stigma" and lack of public knowledge and education makes life very difficult for sufferers. The Press often don't help - remember "Bonkers Bruno"?  We try to find ways of reducing stigma - working with various organisations.